Cartridge and rod end isolator

ABSTRACT

An elastomer-containing rod end isolator. The isolator includes a handle for connection to a load and inner and outer members. The outer member is a pocket and the inner member is spherical or nearly so. The pocket and the inner member are concentric and the inner member has two continuous exterior legs extending in a circular path. An elastomer fills most of the space between members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/536,772, entitled CARTRIDGE AND ROD END ISOLATOR, filed onSep. 29, 2006, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to isolators for rod ends, and especiallythose that include an elastomeric core. These rod ends include an outermember, an inner member and the elastomer component which lies betweenthe two members to absorb vibration and to allow a certain amount ofangular misalignment. The elastomeric component is strongly bonded toboth members.

The basic concept is to utilize the incompressible characteristics ofrubber when it is confined, to support large one-time or low cycle loadevents while still allowing for vibration isolation that is encounteredby working loads. The invention also allows for an angular misalignmentcapability between members. This is accomplished by limiting the abilityof rubber to deform elastically under high radial loads and withoutmetal to metal contact of the inner and outer members.

This isolator design enables one to replace this standard elastomer rodwith isolators that are of modified form without much or any majorchanges to the structure. Designs used in other applications, such asengine mounts or gear reduction mounts, have used cylindrical layers ofrubber and metal. During high loading conditions, the rubber wasessentially removed from the load path by the metal to metal contact onthe inner and outer members.

The present invention prevents this metal component to metal componentcontact, and keeps the isolator in working condition. The cylindricaltype of isolator does not allow for angular misalignment, whereas thespherical design does allow for a certain amount of angularmisalignment.

One of the novel features of the invention is the provision of legs ordams at both ends of the inner member, which, in combination with themold fingers or cutaway portion of rubber, allows the rubber to take ona unique shape. According to this unique shape, the rubber just thenfills up the gap between the leg and the outer member, thus rendering itincompressible under high loading conditions, whereby there is no metalto metal contact. Yet, the arrangement does allow for misalignment ofthe parts to a certain extent, and of course allows vibration to beisolated over the working load range.

For example, one use of this design is for overhead stowage bin isolatormounts on passenger aircraft. The isolator is comprised of threecomponents, an inner member, an outer member and an elastomeric element.The elastomer is bonded to both of these members and lies between thetwo of them. The exterior of the outer member is customarily cylindricalor banjo (rod end) in form.

The inner member uses a mounting bracket and a fastener extendingthere-through of generally rigid construction. The outer member carriesthe load and is able to isolate vibration with no difficulty. The novelfeatures of the invention include the mold fingers which provide a spacefor the rubber to be compressed when subjected to load, and this rubberis confined in part by the two legs or the like, which are preventedfrom contacting the adjacent metal by reason of the legs' compression ofthe rubber into the previously unoccupied space. Accordingly, metal tometal contact is prevented, which would be damaging to the parts.

When in use, in one example, the isolator is able to support large,low-cycle loading events and greatly reduces the structure-borne noisein aircraft overhead stowage bins. These stowage bins, if mounted usingstandard metallic rod end bearings, would amplify the noise andvibration which is transmitted to them through their support structure.However, using the isolators of the present invention, they are able totake a certain amount of misalignment and, when loaded heavily, stillnot be deformed enough to render them ineffective.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved cartridge and rod end elastomeric isolator.

Another object is to provide a rod end isolator having a spherical ornear spherical joint made from elastomer which is molded in-placebetween two specially made metal components.

Another object is to provide an isolator having a spherical portion withone leg or the like on each end of the inner member, with the legs beingrelatively thin and extending radially outward toward the outer member,but with a space in between the inner and outer members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rod end isolator with aspherical segment made from rubber, but having on each end of the rubbera void created by a mold finger or the like for leaving this area freefor engagement by the inner member legs.

Another object is to provide an inner member with such legs on its outersides and having a cylindrical bore of increased length whereby to allowfor twisting or other movement by the outer member.

Another object is to provide a rod end isolator which includes an outerdiameter surrounding member, an inner member of increased width, withthe two members having a bonded, relatively thin layer of elastomerseparating them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished byproviding a rod end portion having an inner member, an outer member, anda layer of rubber between the inner and outer members, with the innermember having a cylindrical bore therethrough and having a pair ofradially extending, narrow legs or walls at the end portion of the outerdiameter of the inner member, and including a volume void of rubber butwhich will be filled upon application of a strong force to the rubber.

The manner in which these and other objects of the invention, and themanner of their attainment, will become more clearly apparent whenreference is made to the following detailed description of the inventionset forth by way of example and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich like reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the rod end isolator of theinvention, showing the outer portion, the inner portion, with a spacebetween them being filled with a layer of rubber, and showing a pair oflegs or the like extending out toward but not touching the outer member,and the mold void space lying radially outward of the leg portions; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with portions broken away, showing therubber and the surfaces to which the rubber is bonded, and showing afastener and a bracket in phantom lines and showing the remainder of theinventive isolator.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the rod end isolator, showing theouter member, the inner member, and a layer of an elastomer lyingbetween and strongly adhered to both the inner member and the outermember, and occupying the entire space between the members except forthe volume on each side taken up by mold fingers, where the volume ofthe mold fingers extends from outside each of the members to pointsinside the lateral extent of the legs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

While the invention is capable of several modifications and changeswithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theclaims, a preferred form of isolator will now be described.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 show thecomposite rod end isolator 8 to include an outer diameter portiongenerally designated 10, a radially inner member generally designated 12and a rubber or other elastomeric layer generally designated 14. Theouter member or outside diameter part usually has a shank or the likewith at least a portion thereof 16 threaded as at 22 for receiving athreaded rod, a cable, or the like. This is, the outer member or outsidediameter part includes a means for connection to a load such as threadedportion 22 of shank, or the like, 16. The outer diameter part 10includes a head portion 18, and a hollowed out portion 20 in the form ofa truncated sphere for receiving the compound spherical inner member 12.

The shank 16 and the remainder of the part has a reduced width 24 inrelation to the total width of the shoulders 26, defining in part a bore28 to receive the fastener 30 which extends through and fastens thebracket 33 (only part of the bracket 33 shown in FIG. 2). The innermember 12 very importantly includes a pair of legs 32, 34 or similarformations extending toward the outer spherical surface 20 of the outermember 10, but still spaced from that surface 20.

The other or inner spherical surface 36 is spaced apart from the outerspherical surface 20 by the thickness of the rubber layer 14.

Referring again to the drawings, there are openings 40, 42 created as aresult of molding called “mold fingers” that keep rubber out of thisvolume during molding, and these openings form a groove which extendscircumferentially on both sides of the rubber 14 and these grooves liebetween the radially outer end portions of the legs 32, 34 and thesurface 20. There is a small amount of rubber 44, 46 just radiallyoutboard of the legs 32, 34. These openings from the mold fingers 40,42, however, extend axially deeper and well beyond the total width ofeach leg 32, 34.

Referring again to the drawings, the overall width of the inner member12 is shown at W in FIG. 1. The narrower width H is slightly reduced andshows the width of the outer member 10. The depth created by the moldfingers is shown at G-D, and is symmetrical; in other words, there is aG-D on both sides of the height H. The next dimension L is the fullwidth of the rubber, and it has a thickness of T, in other words, thedistance between the surfaces 20, 36.

The diameter of the mold fingers or the air gap width is shown at G-1,and the total width of the mold fingers plus the residual rubber justradially outboard of the legs 32, 34, is G-2. In other words, the totalgap width between metal components is G-2. The diameter of the inner,spherical compound surface is SD-1 and the outer spherical compoundsurface diameter is SD-2. The spherical radius of the inner member isSR-1, and the spherical radius of the outer member is SR-2.

Referring now to the manner in which this isolator is used, oneapplication is serving to mount an overhead stowage bin on a fixed wingaircraft. The inner member 12 of the isolator 8 is affixed to theaircraft by the fasteners 30 which engages the bracket 33. A rod 22extends from the outer member and to the lower end of the movable binwhich holds the possessions of the aircraft's passengers.

This application is one which isolates the vibration and provides for acertain amount of misalignment or angular allowance for thisapplication. By using this design, rubber can perform elastically underlow or high radial load without metal-to-metal contact of the innermembers. A cylindrical application would not allow for the twisting orangular misalignment, but the spherical arrangement does. The rubberelement is designed to fill in the volume or close the gap in thedirection of radial loading between the legs. This prevents pinching ofthe elastomer layer in the deformed state under high loading conditions.

The inner and outer portions have a spherical curvature, although notnecessarily one which would allow the inner and outer members to beparts of the same or of concentric spheres. Of course, the highfrequency vibration is damped out and isolated by the rubber mounting.The cumulative reduction of structure borne noise in all aircraftstorage bin is very greatly reduced, and flexibility of alignment isprovided by the arrangement of the inner member and the outer member.

This design limits functions by the volume of space or the volume of thegroove into which the rubber can elastically deform. This significantlyincreases the pressure in the rubber element when it is placed underhigh radial load. This is because the incompressible nature of rubberwhen confined increases the spring rate, allowing large loads to beapplied while avoiding any metal-to-metal contact of the inner and outermembers. With working loads, where the radial load is greatly reduced,the spring rate is significantly lower and this allows for vibrationattenuation.

The key feature in the design is sizing the elastomeric element gapgeometry for the required load and deflection conditions. The amount ofdeflection needed for normal working loads determines the gap width(G1), rubber layer thickness (T), and rubber layer length (L). Higherloading conditions, such as limit loads and ultimate loads, alsocontribute to determining the gap width (G1) and rubber layer length(L), but primarily the size, the width, and depth of the “Legs” aredetermined by sizing the total gap width (G2) and gap depth (GD).

The inner member and outer member compound spherical surfaces (SD1, SD2,SR1, SR2) allow for angular misalignment while maximizing radial loadcapability. Their heights (W, H) and diameters (ID, OD) are dependant onthe geometric envelope requirements of the specific application, butalso directly contribute to loading capacity and vibration attenuationcapabilities of each isolator by limiting the possible size of therubber layer thickness (T) and length (L).

The outer member can be of different forms, dependent on the geometricenvelope and mounting requirements of specific applications.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a novelelastomeric rod end isolator having a number of advantages andcharacteristics, including those pointed out and others which areinherent in the invention.

1. An isolator comprising: an outer member including an axial outerperiphery defining an opening disposed about a central axis and a pocketdefined in a radial interior surface of the outer member that extendsfrom the outer periphery through the outer member, wherein the pocketincludes a first section disposed contiguous with and extending from theouter periphery that is parallel to the central axis and a secondsection disposed contiguous with and extending from the first sectionthat is non-parallel to the central axis; an inner member disposedsubstantially concentric within said outer member, the inner memberincluding an axial outer face defining an aperture disposed about thecentral axis and a radial outer surface that extends across the innermember, wherein the outer surface includes a first portion disposedcontiguous with and extending from the outer face that is parallel tothe central axis and a second portion disposed contiguous with andextending from the first portion that is non-parallel to the centralaxis; and an elastomeric isolator disposed between said inner and outermembers and substantially occupying a space defined between said innerand outer members, the elastomeric isolator including an axiallyinwardly extending groove defined by groove walls separated by a gapwidth, wherein the groove extends circumferentially about a periphery ofthe elastomeric isolator and is disposed between the first section andthe first portion, wherein a groove depth defined by an axial extent ofthe groove walls is greater than the gap width and the groove walls areparallel to the central axis.
 2. The isolator as recited in claim 1,wherein the groove depth is at least one and one-half times the gapwidth.
 3. The isolator as recited in claim 1, wherein the second sectionand the second portion are configured substantially complimentary.
 4. Anisolator comprising: an outer member including an axial outer peripherydefining an opening disposed about a central axis and a pocket definedin a radial interior surface of the outer member that extends from theouter periphery through the outer member, wherein the pocket includes amajor section that is non-parallel to the central axis; an inner memberdisposed substantially concentric within said outer member, the innermember including an axial outer face defining an aperture disposed aboutthe central axis and a radial outer surface that extends across theinner member, wherein the outer surface includes a first portiondisposed contiguous with and extending from the outer face that isparallel to the central axis and a second portion disposed contiguouswith and extending from the first portion that is non-parallel to thecentral axis; and an elastomeric isolator disposed between said innerand outer members and substantially occupying a space defined betweensaid inner and outer members, the elastomeric isolator including anaxially inwardly extending groove defined by groove walls separated by agap width, wherein the groove extends circumferentially about aperiphery of the elastomeric isolator and, wherein a groove depthdefined by an axial extent of the groove walls is greater than the gapwidth and the groove walls are parallel to the central axis.
 5. Theisolator as recited in claim 4, wherein the major section and the secondportion are configured substantially complimentary.
 6. The isolator asrecited in claim 4, wherein the groove depth is at least one andone-half times the gap width.
 7. An elastomeric isolator comprising aunitary body of an elastomer material, said unitary body having a radialload-carrying portion and an angular misalignment portion, wherein theangular misalignment portion includes an axially inwardly extendinggroove defined by groove walls separated by a gap width, wherein thegroove extends circumferentially about a periphery of the elastomericisolator and, wherein a groove depth defined by an extent of the groovewalls is greater than the gap width and an outer wall of the radialload-carrying portion is non-parallel to the groove walls.
 8. Theelastomeric isolator as recited in claim 7, wherein an inner wall of theradial load-carrying portion is non-parallel to the groove walls.
 9. Theelastomeric isolator as recited in claim 7, wherein the groove depth isat least one and one-half times the gap width.